A bioengineered pothos has removed benzene and chloroform in sealed laboratory containers, but that does not show that one plant can clean the air in an occupied home. The project behind the “superplant,” Neoplants’ Neo P1, is still being reworked, and the company says USDA approval is ongoing. The results are promising research—not proof of a ready-to-buy home air purifier.
What is the bioengineered “superplant”?
The phrase refers to research on genetically modified pothos ivy (Epipremnum aureum) designed to break down certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are gases released by some products and materials; benzene and chloroform were the two compounds tested in the study.
In a 2018 paper, University of Washington researchers Zhang, Routsong and Strand reported engineering pothos to express mammalian cytochrome P450 2E1, or CYP2E1, an enzyme involved in breaking down chemicals. The paper presented transgenic plants as a possible basis for future biofilters, not as a tested household appliance. Read the study abstract on PubMed.
That experimental plant is not the same as an ordinary pothos sold at a garden center. Nor should it be confused with Neoplants’ separate Neo Px product, which the company describes as a plant paired with pollutant-metabolizing bacteria.
#1 Best Overall
- TOP DECOR CHOICE: Elevate your home decor or office desk with heart-shaped variegated leaves. This vining plant is a versatile aesthetic greenery piece that looks stunning trailing from a windowsill, bookshelf, mantle, or hanging basket
- EASY CARE HOUSEPLANT: Perfect for beginners or those with low light, this live pothos plant is incredibly hardy. It thrives as an indoor plant with minimal watering, making it the ultimate low-maintenance addition to any apartment or bedroom
- AIR PURIFYING BENEFITS: Improve your indoor air quality naturally. This purifying plant helps filter common toxins, acting as a functional piece of living decor that promotes a healthier, more productive home office environment
- THOUGHTFUL GIFT IDEA: An ideal housewarming gift, birthday present, or teacher appreciation gift. Our plants deliver farm-fresh and securely packaged to arrive lush and healthy, ready to be displayed immediately
- ADAPTABLE GROWTH: This climbing vine easily adapts to various light conditions. Whether you want a trailing plant for a high shelf or a lush tabletop centerpiece, the Golden Pothos grows quickly to fill your space with life
What did the laboratory tests find?
NIH’s January 8, 2019 summary describes tests in which engineered and unmodified plants were placed in glass containers containing one chemical at a time, with concentrations followed for eleven days. These were sealed-container tests, not trials in occupied homes.
| Pollutant | Finding reported by NIH | What the result means |
|---|---|---|
| Benzene | Engineered plants cleared 4.7 times more benzene than wild-type plants in the container tests. | A comparison between modified and unmodified plants under the study conditions; it is not a room-cleaning rate. |
| Chloroform | Concentrations fell 82% during the first three days and were almost completely removed after six days. Wild-type plants did not clear chloroform. | A result for the sealed-container experiment, not a guarantee of equivalent removal in a home. |
NIH’s account says the team described converting chloroform into carbon dioxide and chloride ions, and benzene into phenol. These are the researchers’ reported chemical transformations; the study does not establish that the plant removes every indoor pollutant or makes a home’s air safe.
Rank #2
- LUSH TRAILING FOLIAGE SET: This 2-pack of trailing live Pothos plants offers a simple way to add lush greenery to hanging planters or high shelves. A top-rated choice for purifying your indoor air and adding a tropical feel
- EASY TO MAINTAIN, BEGINNER-FRIENDLY INDOOR PLANTS: This pack of two Pothos (Devil’s Ivy) is an effortless way to start your collection. These low-maintenance varieties are easy to grow and require minimal attention, making them great for any home or office
- CREATE A CALMING SANCTUARY: The vibrant, fast-growing vines help to energetically lift your mood, transforming two areas of your home into spaces for natural wellbeing
- PERFECT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION: This living and thoughtful present is ideal for birthdays, housewarmings, holidays, or just because. Brighten a loved one's day with a beautiful indoor plant
- FRESH PLANTS, READY FOR YOUR HOME: Your collection of healthy, vibrant live indoor plants, fresh from our farm, arrives secured in specialized packaging right to your home
NIH’s summary of the experiment gives the chamber findings and their context. The paper appeared online December 19, 2018, and in Environmental Science & Technology 53(1), pages 325–331 (2019); ACS bibliographic record.
Can a plant really clean the air in a typical home?
The chamber results do not answer that question. A real home has changing pollutant sources, air exchange, room volume and other conditions that were not represented by the sealed-container tests. The study did not establish that one plant reduces residents’ exposure, and it did not test particulate pollution such as dust or smoke.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- Prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates medium-light indoor environments
- Water when soil begins to dry; thrives in loose, well-draining potting soil
- Great for year-round indoor growing, with most active growth during spring and summer
- Hardy outdoors in USDA Zones 10-12; ideal as houseplants elsewhere
- Plants and animals make everything better, from simply raising our spirits to enriching our everyday lives. That’s why a portion of every purchase is directed to our mission to help place shelter animals in happy homes.
Ordinary houseplants are not established substitutes for whole-room air-cleaning systems either. NIH notes disagreement about how effective indoor plants are and says too many would be needed to clean a typical room. A separate building study found reductions in some measured VOCs but negligible particulate-matter removal under its specific conditions. That result should not be generalized to every building or treated as evidence that plants filter particles. See the building study record on PubMed.
For construction and renovation decisions, this distinction matters: evidence about a plant affecting selected gases in a controlled setting is not evidence that it controls dust, smoke, or all indoor contaminants. The sources cited here do not establish a plant as a replacement for ventilation or purpose-built filtration.
Rank #4
- LIVE POTHOS PLANT DELIVERY: Each order includes one fully-rooted golden pothos in a 4" pot. Devil's ivy (Epipremnum aureum) is a beautiful, easy to grow house plant.
- EASY TO GROW HOUSE PLANTS: Brighten up your space with this variegated plant. Bring the beauty of nature inside by growing alongside other office plants and desk plants.
- REAL PLANT CARE: Plant lovers appreciate the durability of this hardy plant. Pothos plants are low light tolerant and persevere in challenging conditions.
- ABOUT PLANTS FOR PETS: Plants and animals make everything better, from simply raising our spirits to enriching our everyday lives. That’s why a portion of every purchase is directed to our mission to help place shelter animals in happy homes.
- HEATWAVE ADVISORY: Please consider local temperatures before placing an order. Your plants may arrive damaged/wilted if shipped in temperatures exceeding 95° and left unattended in extreme heat. We strongly recommend unboxing your delivery immediately upon arrival.
Is Neo P1 available now?
Neoplants’ current Neo P1 project page says it developed a first version in 2023, found significant performance variation during testing, and is reworking the engineered-plant feature. The company also says USDA approval is ongoing. Those are the maker’s status statements, accessed October 8, 2026; regulatory status and availability can change. Check Neoplants’ Neo P1 project page for its current update.
Neoplants’ science page describes Neo P1 as Golden Pothos using metabolism engineering and microbial inoculation, with the company targeting formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene. Those are company descriptions of its project and targets, not findings from the 2018 pothos study. Read the company’s Neo P1 science description.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow is Neo Px different?
Neo Px is a separate product, not the genetically modified pothos from the 2018 paper or the same project as Neo P1. Neoplants describes it as a Marble Queen Pothos paired with engineered bacteria, a shell intended to improve airflow, and monthly Power Drops to replenish its microbial system.
Neoplants advertises Neo Px as “up to 30x more effective than the most air purifying houseplants” and says its research was conducted with IMT Nord Europe. That is the company’s comparative claim, not an independently verified result in an occupied home or a result established by the 2018 study. See Neoplants’ Neo Px product description.
Quick Recap
What should you take away from the evidence?
- Promising but narrow finding: an engineered pothos outperformed unmodified pothos for benzene and chloroform removal in sealed containers.
- Not a demonstrated home purifier: the cited research does not show how much a plant would reduce pollutants in an occupied home.
- Not ready-made Neo P1: Neoplants says it is revising the engineered-plant feature and that USDA approval is ongoing.
- Do not conflate products: Neo Px is a separate plant-and-microbiome system, and its “up to 30x” statement is a company claim.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
